Shoe stretching last



May 7, 1935- P. LA MARCA ET A1. 2,000,340

sH'oE STRETCHING LAST ,f). l A TTORNEYS.

May 7, 1935- P. A MRCA ET A1. 2,000,340

SHOE STRETCHING LAS'I" Filed Ooi. 50, 1933 5 Sheets-Shea?l 2 A TTORNEYS.

MTA/55555 May 7, .1935- P. A MARCA ET AL 2,000,340

SHOE STRETCHING LAST Filed oci. 5o, 1935 3 sheets-sheet 3 plan View ofA one embodiment of the invention;

Patented May 7, 1935 sHoE strnlrrrullivd'LA'sri` A l Patsy LaMarca, Coraopolis, and Quirino D.

- f Romito, Charleroi, Pa. i

Application october so, lssalserial No. 695,764 `11 claims. v (o1. 1ra-128.3)

This invention relates to a combination adjustable shoe tree and shoe-stretching last and has for its primary object the provision of an improved device of this character which is adapted to be effectively used for selectively stretching anyv part of a shoe, slipper, or similar piece of footwear, or-asr a shoe tree to retain various sizes of footgearjin shape when not in use.

Another` object is to provide a last of this typev v.which is simple and sturdy of construction, de

pendable in operation, and which may be readilyY adjusted to either stretch the various parts of a shoe, to relieve the user of any irritating pressure, or uniformly adjusted to function as a properly 51, shaped tree for different sizes of footgear. l A further and more particular object is to provide a last which is made up entirely of partsr detailed descriptionI is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which Fig. 1 is a Fig. 2 a side View partly in elevation; andpartly in section, of the last shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 al sectional View of the toe portion thereof, showing .a detachable seam-stretching shield mounted von the top of it; Fig. 4 a perspective view of the stretching shield shown in Fig. 3;.Fig. 5 an exploded view partly in plan and partly in section of the last shown in Fig. 1 Fig. 6 a'vertic'al section taken on the line VI'-VI of Fig. 1; Fig. 7a,

Referring in detail to the drawings and first vmore particularly `to Figs. l, 2, 5 and 6, the numeral I designates a skeleton-like frame on which thev various movable parts of the last are supported. YAs shown best in Fig. 5 this frame comprises the center structure of the last being provided with a base the surface of which extends from the heel to the toe, and has a contour simi-v lar to the bottom of the human foot. At its-rear end there is secured a vertical wall 2 which forms j tongue-shaped cover a slot 3| is provided, and

4a partition between the heel andforward part of the last and functions as a support for a number of adjusting screws as will presently appear.

In front of the dividing wall 2 the frame I is, similar to a U-shaped channel andis equipped at its forward end with a double end wall struc-.

ture 3 which is adapted to form arpocl-:etV 4 for receivinga depending tongue Son a detachable toe section 6 which is secured toV and forms the. iront end of the last, such toe being-provided` in diiferent sizes-to accommodate dilerent sizes of shoes and to form a uniform shape'when the last is adjusted to different sizes. v The sidewalls of the last are made upl oflaterally expandable instep and joint sections 'I and 8 which may be cast substantially solid as shown or made in the `form of shells out of any suitable; material. These,-asshown, are arranged to fit against the sidesof the frame'l when adjusted to theirinner position and have outer walls approximating in shape as nearly as possible the contour of the instep and front joint portion of the foot. For adjustingsuch sections two pairs of screws 9 and II are mounted in the frame I in spaced relation to each other and 'threadably engaged in threaded openings I2 and I3 provided in sections 'I and 8for their reception. At rtheir inner ends these screws are rigidly` supported in the `frame I and equipped with miter gears, I4 and I 5 whichl arenieshedwith-bevelledpinions I6 andy I1 respectively. These pinions in turn are mounted on the lower ends o fa pair of screw shafts I8 and I9 which are extended through openings 2I and22 respectively inthe back wall 2 of theframe I, to a convenient point above the top Vof the heel of the last. f l Iny order that ,the sections 'Iand 8 will be actuated in opposite directions when the screws I8 and IQareturned, the screwsS and II are pro-V 'vided with reverse threads, and to insure their moving` in proper alignment as Well as to hold them in place at all times, a pair of guide pins 23 and 24 is secured to the sides of the frame I in a manner to engage holes y25 and 26 formed in such sections. Y To furtherassist in guiding the movementof these parts a pair ofU-shaped guides 21 is secured to the opposite sides of the frame I at the junction of the two side sections 'I and 8` being disposed to't in lateral slots cut in the adjacent edges of the sidejsections.v

Over the top of the instep of the last there is provided a tongue-like cover plate 28 which is connected at its lower end by a hinge 29 to the connected to the frame. At the upper endof such l To provide for raising and lowering the upper end of the tongue-shaped cover plate 28 a threaded block 34 is mounted on the screw to slidably engage the slot 3|.

In this particular embodiment of the invention, which is intended more especially for use with ladies shoes, although not necessarily so limited, the heel proper 0f the last is made up of a single hollow heel piece 35 which is adjustably,A

mounted on a guide shaft 36 connected tothe rear face of the division wall 2 of the frame l. Like the toe section 6, this heel section may be made in different interchangeable sizes to accommo date different sizes of shoes. In it a hole 31 is provided for the reception of the shaft 38, and for effecting its adjustment a screw 38 lis provided, which as shown is secured at its forward end to a miter gear 4l mounted on the right side of the frame l near the division wall 2. The rear end of such screw is extended through an opening 42 in the wall 2 and into the heel section 35. To cause the heelto move when the screw 38 is turned, a nut 43 is mounted against turning between a pair of spaced b0sses44 and 45 in which holes M3r and 41 are provided for the passage of the screws. In order to allow the heel to adapt itself to fit shoes having differently inclined soles or heights of heels, these holes 46 and-.41 are made sufficiently larger than the screwto permit the heel to teeter about the bosses when it is loosened from the wall 2 as shown by the dotted line in Fig. 2.

For actuating the screw 38l a bevel pinion 48 mounted on arscrew shaft 48 is meshed with the miter gear 4I, the shaft 49 being passed through a hole 5I in the back wall 2 of the frame l and conveniently arranged with the other screw shafts I8, I9 and 32, above the upper end of the heel, such shafts all being provided with non-cr-y cular ends for the reception of a common turning tool not shown by which they are adjusted.

As will `be appreciated, from the foregoing description, a last constructed in thisvfashion can be readily elongated or shortened by turning the heel-adjusting screw shaft 49, thev instep side sections 1 expanded or contracted' by turning andV adjusting screwl8, and thefjoint sections 8 adjusted by turning the screw shaft I9: The tongue-shaped cover Yplatel 28 may be`also adjusted by either elevating thefshaft v32 whichy lifts such cover to some extent when it is elevated, or by turning the shaft to move the slide block 34 in the slot 3l.

To make the toe of thev last correspond in size with the different adjustments of the rest of the last, the toe tip 6 as previously indicatedy may be changed, as also may be the heel section 35. -To further` enlarge the last, particularly for stretching shoes which are partly broken in, or for locally stretching the lower edges of a shoe as well as for uniformly spreading` the pressure exerted on the shoe when oneor the other of the sections 1 or 8 is adjusted, adjustable side plates 53 and 54 are provided. To adapt these to t the last they are curved in the shape of the last so that they t smoothly over that vportion of the last which they are adapted to cover. For' holding such plates in place pins 55am-provided in spacedrelation on their inner walls to t in holes `56 and 5-1 formed in the'side wall sections 1 and 8. As will be appreciated, such plates may be used either singly or in pairs.

To relieve the pressureY on a buniony a bunionV plug 58 is provided, being equipped with a pin 59 adapted to fit in one of the holes 51 in the joint section of the last. This plug, of course, may be provided in various shapes to accommodate different affected areas, although only one is shown.

To adapt the last for use in sizes of shoes which are larger than can be accommodated by the full adjustment 0f the screw 38 an auxiliary heel section 6| is provided.A 'I'his section is similar in shape to the back end of the heel and is equipped vwith pins 62 for attaching it to the rear end 0f the heel section 35, holes 63 being drilled in the section 35 for their reception.

To provide forexerting agreater pressure over thefront joint section of a shoe than can normally be exerted by the tongue plate 28, a detachable toe plate 64 is provided which may be used as may be the other auxiliary parts of the last at the will of the operator. As shown in Figs.A 1 and 2 this plate is adapted. to fit over the forward end of the tongue cover 28 and the rear end of the toe tip 6, and is equipped with pins which are arranged to fit in holes 66 and 61 provided in the toe section 6 and the plate 28 respectively.

For stretchingv the seam of a shoe over the forward' joint of the foot a detachable seamstretching shield 68 is provided, being adapted to vfit on the cover plate 28 and to engage such portion of the shoe. For holding it in place it is provided with a lug 53 which is arranged vto fit ina slot 'l I` cut in the cover plate 28. Such shield, as shown, is inclined upwardly at a rather steep angle toadapt it to effectively stretch the seam portion of the shoe with but slight elevation of the tongue cover plate 28.

Referring tol Figs. 9, 10 and l1, an 'embodiment of the invention is shown which is more especially devised for use with mens shoes, and differing from theabove-described embodiment primarily only in the construction of its heel portion and in the contour'of the' bottom of the last. To avoid repetition, the description of the forward part of this last, ,whichl is the same as the last previously described, is omitted, but to distin-` guish the two, the suffix a has been added to the reference characters appliedy to the various parts.

Asl illustrated, the heel structure of this latter embodiment of the invention' comprises a body section l2 which forms the bottom portion of the heel and on which the other parts of the heel are mounted, being itself mounted on a slide rod 36a attached to the back wall 2a of the frame la and an adjusting screw 38a in practically the same way as the heel section 35 is mounted, differing, however, from the previous structure in that the heel is not adapted to teeter onthe screw 38a. For mens shoes, the pitch of the insole does not vary sufficiently to require any teetering action of the heel for the last to fit different sizes of shoes properly.

Secured by adjusting screws. 'I4A to the sides of body section 'l2 of the heel is a pair of adjustable counter-sections 15 which may be expanded or contracted to fit various sized shoes. These screws 14' like the other adjusting screws of the last are provided with reverse threads and mounted at their inner ends in brackets 16 formed on the top of the body section 12. For

adjusting such screw, miter gears ll are securedv tothem between the bosses 1S and meshed with a miter pinion 18 which is attached to a screw shaft` '|9` extended tothe top of the heelv and prosections, said oppositely ydisposed joint hsections,i

adjustment,vr y To make the/back of -lthe'f heel correspond in vided withra non-circularend@forr effecting itsl 82 secured to" it which are varranged to -fit in holes 83 provided in the'rear faceofthefheel bodysec-l tion 'I2 forftheirreception. Withfthis construe` tion, as will befappreciatedythe heel as;E welll as'V the forward part oftherlast"canbeexpanded and contracted laterallyla's well-as' endwis'ewhich/ is particularly desirable when' used`fwith"`mens Shoes.'v

According to the provisions vof thepa'tentstatutes, we have explained the principle and modeoff operation of l our invention i and have illustrated and described whatsI lnow considert'o represent its best embodiment: However, desire to 'have it understood 'tha-t," witliinv Vthe scopejof the ap! pended claims, the invention mayy be practiced otherwise than as speciiicallyillustrated' z'tiidrde-- 1`. A combination v'adjustable shoeftree 'and shoestretching last, comprising al supporting/frame, *al pair'of uniformly laterallyexpans'i'ble sidesecr'fr tions adjustably mounted on opposite" vsides`- of said frame to formY the yinstep and. forward joint portions of'thelast; a detachabletpe'section s'e-f cured to the frontend of said frame, 1a tongue-jr u shaped instepcover'plate `pivotally connected at `one end to said frame atitslforward end; a' lcross Wall securedtov the rear kengi of said. jframe', an.

axially adjustable 'heel section pivotally: secured to said cross wall'andv individual yIne'ajns/fo'r adjusting said heel section,v, lsaid oppositely disposed instepsections, said oppositely disposed joint sections, and the upper end "of'said instep cover plate.

2. A combination adjustable shoe tree and shoestretching last, comprising a supporting frame, a pair of uniformly laterally expansible side sections extending from the top to a point adjacent the center line of the bottom of the last and adjustably mounted on opposite sides of said frame to form the instep and forward joint portions of the last, a detachable toe section secured to the front end of said frame, a tongue-shaped instep cover plate pivotally connected at one end to said frame at its forward end and extending upwardly over the adjacent edges of said oppositely disposed side sections, a cross wall secured to the rear end of said frame, a heel section connected for axial adjustment to said cross wall, and independent means for adjusting said heel section, said oppositely disposed instep sections, and said oppositely disposed joint sections.

3. A combination adjustable shoe tree and shoestretching last, comprising a supporting frame forming the center portion of the bottom of said last, a pair of uniformly laterally expansible side sections adjustably mounted on opposite sides of said frame to form the instep and forward joint portions of the last, a detachable toe section secured to the front end of said frame, a tongueshaped instep cover plate pivotally connected at the lower end to the forward end of said frame, a cross wall secured to the rear end of said frame, a heel section pivotally and axially adjustably connected to said cross wall, and independent means supported in said cross wall for adjusting said heel section, said oppositely disposed instep and 'the upper end 'of said instep cover-plate; ff-z )42 Afcombination'adjustable shoe tree and sh'oestretchinglast, comprising a supporting frame: having'a cross section offchanneL shape, afpairf of uniformlyrexpan'sible'side sections adjustably: mounted on opposite :sides ofl said' frame to form the instep 'andforward joint portions'ofthe last,

a Idetachable-toe section secured to'thefront end of saidframe, a tongue-'shaped instep coveplate pivotally connected l atits lower' end -to the forward end 'of said frame; a cross-wall secureditothe'` reary endl-'of said "-frame;k va. heel 'sectionf pivotallyand 'axially adjustably connected'. to said crossf` wall," "opposit'elydisposed screwsvl secured-iin fthe" vsidesof-saidframe'and engaged in threaded open# ings inf said instep and joint's'ectiona` gear means mountedfin the-channel portionof' said frame? andse'cuifed to saidscrews, adjusting pinions-arranged to engage said gears andlmount'e'don ad# justing' vshafts suppcn-ted inil said cross'wall`for' separate operation, a screw mOuntedin'said Alrax'ri'e-l for 'adjustingfs'aid heel section, anda screw-`-shatt secured Ato the front endofsaidfframe,aftongueshapedr yinstepl coverA plate ypivotally connected at" its` lower end to the forward-,end of said frame; af cr'ossw ll secured to Vthere ',r ndy of said frame,v

an axially adjustable heel section removably fc nectedto'said lcross wall, a "pair of 'laterally 'a justablecounter-'members mounted onfth'e sidesf of "said heel' section,` and separate ine'aifis l'for a iauyadjsting said heel section-latraux adjusting said counter-sections, laterally adjusting said oppositely disposed instep sections, laterally adjusting said oppositely disposed joint sections,l

equipped witn'ineans forfadjusting said-'heel 'sec-ii '5, "A combination: adjustable shfoe tree and 'shoestretching last',V comprising a,Y Supporting; frame@ pair of uniformlyfexpans'ible side sections entendir ing'frorn the topf'toa'point 'adjacentthebottomcenterline ofsaidflast rxiounted` on opposite sides"1 Y of said frameto forni the'instp-fandfc'i'riivardly joint portions of the last,`a detachabletoefsection' nected at one end to said frame at its forward Y end, a cross wall secured to the rear end of said f frame, an axially adjustable heel section pivotally secured to said cross Wall and individual means for adjusting said heel section, said oppositely disposed instep sections, said-oppositely disposed joint sections, and the upper end of said instep l cover plate.

7. A combination adjustable shoe tree and shoe-stretching last, comprising a supporting frame, a pair of uniformly laterally expansible side sections extending from the top to a point adjacent the center line of the bottom of the last and adjustably mounted on opposite sides of said frame, a detachable toe section secured to the.

front end of said frame, a tongue-shaped instep cover plate pivotally connected at one end to said frame at its forward end 'and extending upwardly over the adjacent edges of said oppositely dis- 40;, its lower end to the forwardend of said frame, a

ofsaidlast, a, pair of uniformly laterally experisible side aectionsadjustably-rnounted on opposite sides of said frame to form vtheinstep and forward joint portions of the last, van expansion plate deftachablymolmted on the sideof, said last with its ends engaging both -saidinstepandvjoint section, a detachable toe; section secured to the front end ot said-frame, a tongue-shaped instepcover plate pivotally connected at the lowerendto. the fore wardendgof4 saidwframe, a ldetachable stretching platemollnted on ,the lower :end of said instep cover plate with one end extended over said ltoe section,l a cross wall securedto the rear end of said frame,l a heel section axially adjustably connected tov said cross -walLrand independent means ysupin saidcrose wall for adjustingv saidheel section,` saidl oppositely` disposed instep sections, said oppositely joint sections, and the upperl end ofxsaid instep cover plate. Y

9. A` combinationv adjustable shoeL tree and shoe-stretching last, comprisingV a supporting frame, al pair of Auniformly yexpansible side secledjustablyikmountedY on opposite sides `of said frame to form4 the instep and forward joint portions of the last, a .detachable 'toe section securedto'the front end of said frame,..a tongueshaped" instepcover plate pivotally connected v`at adjusting pinions arranged to engagesaid gearsk and mounted on adjusting shafts supported in Vsaid cross wall for separate operation, a. screw mounted in said frame for adjusting said heel section, and a screw shaft equipped with means for adjusting said heel section.

10. A combination. adjustable shoe tree and shoe-stretching last, comprising a supportingr frame,A a pair of uniformly expansible side sectionsextending from the top to a point adjacent the bottom centerline of said last mounted on opposite sides Aof saidframe to form .the instep and forward joint portions of the last, a detachable toe section secured to the front end of said frame, `a tongue-shaped instep cover plate pivotally connectedV at its lower e'ndto the forward end of said frame, a shield for stretching the seam at the top of the joint section of a shoe detachably mounted onthe lower end of said instep cover plate, a crosswall secured to the rear end of said frame, an axially adjustable heel section removablyconnected to said cross wall, and separate means for axially 'adjusting said heel section, laterallyadjusting saidopposily ldisposed instep sections, laterally adjusting said oppositely disposed joint sections, and elevating the upper end of said instep cover plate.

11`. A stretching last according to claim 1 having abunion'plug detachably mounted on the side of one of said side joint sections.

yPirrsir LA MARCA. v cumino D. Roi/uro. 

